I don't like the rules of this particular meme...which is why I wasn't happy with her list (this isn't a knock on Greta who I really like and look forward to talking to at the American Atheists National convention in April, as we're both on the speakers' list...but screw the rules, let's go for fun!).

So, in no particular order, here are my 10 favorite Christmas songs (or at least 10 that I really like)...irrespective of any rules:

47 comments:

In my case, it depends of the interpretation. And I love the religious carols, as long as they are well interpreted Among my favorite Christmas songs are the ones in A Charlie Brown Christmas. I also love Jessye Norman's Christmastide, which my brothers and I used as background music for Dungeons & Dragons games.

That weird-ass "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer" made it but Darlene Love's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) didn't?... lame :P

I also really like Enya's version of Oíche Chiún(a.k.a. "Noche de Paz," a.k.a "Silent Night"). Only in Irish Gaelic, though, it sucks in English and Spanish. Although, it obviously breaks the rule as well.

Ah, Christmas music. Yes, the cheesy stuff gets repetitive after a while, and the overly goddy stuff is something I've never liked much. But hands-down, and also defying the rules that it specifically has to be "for atheists", this is the best Christmas song ever written:

Ever since we got one of those stupid dancing Santas, I can't listen to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" without wanting to strangle someone with barbed wire. I hate that song more than words can describe.

Because my taste in music rarely overlaps with the genres in which Christmas songs can be found, I can't say I really enjoy them very much at all.

I 'grew up' in Japan in the 1990's, so two of my favorites are 'White Love' by Speed and 'Winter Song' by Dreams Come True. They're more winter-y love songs, but that's as Christmas as I really care to get.

But, For songs from the U.S., I'm partial to 'Christmas in Hollis' by Run-DMC.

I'm another who thinks "Fairytale of New York" is the best Christmas song of all time. The Pogues were awesome. Thanks to the posters above who linked to different versions - I had never heard the "No Use for a Name" version before - a great cover!

I've got a blog going this year for what I term are "xmas songs that don't suck", I hope you won't begrudge me from plugging it here as it seems relevant and some of the songs mentioned here that people like are on it, and there are a few that hopefully you haven't heard of:

After some research I see this "date rape song" thing has been discussed a lot on the internet. I still don't buy it. All of her "nos" sound like she's more worried about what others will think, not that she actually WANTS to leave. I'll admit its a little iffy, but I just don't see it as date rape. Also, it's not like we hear what happens in the END.

In the original version it is VERY clear that the lady fully intends to get biblical with the guy, she's just doing what all 'good' women had to do at the time; pretend not to be in any way sexual so she doesn't come off as a slut.

I I just attended a concert with a superb performance of "Carol of the Bells."

It was the opening song of the 2 and a half hour holiday concert at the local high school. All the lights went out, then there was singing from an unseen source. You slowly became aware of a glow behind you, and upon turning you could see a line of handheld candles coming down either side of the auditorium.

Step, pause, step, pause, without missing a single beat, as each singer walked past in the dark, you could pick their one part out while still hearing the others as they all slowly joined together on the stage.

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PLEASE NOTE: The Atheist Experience has moved to a new location, and this blog is now closed to comments. To participate in future discussions, please visit http://www.freethoughtblogs.com/axp.The Atheist Experience is a weekly live call-in television show sponsored by the Atheist Community of Austin. This independently-run blog (not sponsored by the ACA) features contributions from current and former hosts and co-hosts of the show.